Holte's corner

Arrogance is a Smart Man's stupidity

I was listening to an author, David L. Phillips, today talk about his book. The book name is "Losing Iraq" and you can buy it through Barnes and Noble. The guy worked for the Coalition Authority, and he came to conclude that the Bush Administration and the coalition, well, basically blew it. In the book he details the Arrogance, incompetance, stupidity, and blown opportunities of the occupation. And he was discussing these things on the air today (06/17/2005).

Actually he could have been one of about three or four who have been unanimous in their opinions; Wesley Clark in his book: "Winning Modern Wars makes much the same points. And of course, Richard Clark, has basically the same opinion Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror, although his book was written pretty much before we invaded. "Rise of the Vulcans" -- similar story.

The author quoted an experience where a young and imperious Bush Administration official was talking to one of the Interum Government people, an elderly Arab who asked him "have you read all the books on the British Empire in Iraq." And the guy proudly replied "Yes I've read everyone." And the guy allegedly replies "Well you must have read them, because you seem determined to repeat every mistake." The US went in undermanned, "on the cheap" and then proceeded to "de-baathesize" and fire the entire Iraqi Army, virtually "guaranteeing a well organized and well funded insurgency."

But what was most interesting was listening to the "sort of" debate between him and the representative of the American Enterprise Institute, who claimed to agree with him 95% and then proceeded to show that he still suffers the exact same arrogance that the author was talking about. The guy claims that we need to stay for an extended period, beyond rebuilding the army and overseeing elections. In other words, what any third world person would recognize, imperialism.

Amazing things. And each time one of these people appears they are attacked and vilified as liars, traitors, villains. And yet we keep finding out that in each case there is corroborrating evidence. Lies about WMD; Lack of plan? Read the Downing Street Memos -- or any of these books. I guess the folks who are so ready to believe anything they hear do so because it is quite impossible to believe that such people would lie to them. After all this is America, these are good down home Republicans who attend Church, Church socials, and pray to God for Crimminy sake. How could they lie when the good book says that lying is wrong? No, their critics must be the liars. Yet they do lie and they lie in legion.

Posted by cholte at June 17, 2005 07:17 PM